Markets were just heating up when it first issued shares at $5
in October 2004. And up until the credit crisis last year the
heavily-geared financier's share price was on the up and up,
reaching an all-time high of $34.63 in June 2007. Since then it's
been hurt, like so many financial stocks reliant on debt. We all
know that story. Last week, after announcing an interim profit
guidance downgrade of up to 40 per cent, it traded at all-time lows
of about $4.60. The drop of more than 20 per cent makes it the
week's worst stock, anchoring chartist Richard Pritchard to the
bottom and keeping accountant Heidi Schmitzer in sixth. Joining BNB
in the bin for the week were toymaker Funtastic (FUN), the previous
week's winning stock Buderim Ginger (BUG) and small biotech
Giaconda (GIA), down 23 per cent, 19 per cent and 15 per cent
respectively.
Losses on Funtastic and Buderim cost Claire Hooper her top spot,
now held by the Dartboard.
Olympics broadcaster Seven Network (SEV) gave back some of its
gains it accrued over the previous two weeks - dropping about 4 per
cent and back to square one for this race - not helping David
Potts. But judging by the feedback from some aggrieved viewers,
this isn't the only race in which Seven has faltered. Try
Beijing.